NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – A man who orchestrated a series of cell phone thefts targeting at least 25 victims in Manhattan has been sentenced to state prison, prosecutors announced Tuesday.
Victor Parra, 31, pleaded guilty to grand larceny and was sentenced to 2 to 6 years, according to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, Jr.
The investigation began when the NYPD uncovered a gun trafficking conspiracy allegedly involving high-ranking members of the Tren de Aragua gang.
“This ring snatched more than two dozen cell phones in Manhattan, and now its ringleader is being held accountable,” Bragg said. “This investigation also led us to a larger alleged gun trafficking conspiracy that involves four defendants selling illegal firearms.”
According to court documents, Parra ran an organized theft operation, where individuals on mopeds rode up to victims and snatched their phones. Parra would then meet with the thieves, pay them for each stolen device, and offer additional money if the phones were unlocked.
He also enlisted another person to hack into locked phones and steal money from victims’ financial accounts.
In February last year, police had carried out a search at 2970 Bronx Park E. where Parra lived and operated from.
Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny had stated at the time that they have been thoroughly investigating and linking together the moped theft cases.
According to Kenny, there had been a total of 62 incidents across every borough except Staten Island, starting from December 2023 to the most recent on Feb. 4, 2024.
Kenny also said that the suspects are part of a group of migrants who recently arrived in the United States and are living in the migrant shelter system. Parr, also from Venezuela, coordinated the thefts by sending out messages on WhatsApp specifying the type of phone he wants.
One of the thefts occurred on Dec. 22, 2023, around midnight at West 24th Street and Sixth Avenue. A co-defendant, sitting on the back of a moped, grabbed a victim’s phone before meeting Parra in the Bronx, where they made two unauthorized Apple Card transactions for $1,742 and $1,630. They also attempted a $1,000 Zelle transaction, which was declined.
Another theft took place on Jan. 5, 2024, at 8:30 p.m., in front of 721 Third Avenue. Parra directed two people to steal a phone, after which they met him in the Bronx, according to prosecutors. Two Zelle transactions of $1,300 and $200 were later made from the victim’s account.